Just been reading the article on BBC website about increasing positivity surrounding RL, World Cup & free to air tv deal.

Seems to me that however much interest is generated by the WC & SL on 4, the vast majority of people will not be able to see a live game at that level due to the reluctance to expand outside the M62. Wonder if RL will regret not finding a way to get & keep a London team in SL?

London team in SL will only work if we have regular England internationals played in London as well. (same goes for Union in the north of england, England RU team needs to get out of twickenham for some games). Its the International game which drives interest for all sports outside of football (and the US sports).

I know that one semi final will be held at Arsenal's ground but i was disappointed that the opening fixture/s are not going to be not held in London - Wembley, Olympic Stadium or Spurs could all work ?

Didn't realise until I looked that the WC Final is same day as England v New Zealand RU. Be funny if ko at same time but deffo a battle of the viewing figures.

You know what, if I was an investor looking to get a team from the south east into super league I'd buy Skolars. I would look towards using the Spurs ground when I got them there. Ideally you'd want two London/south east clubs as well as two from France

The fans wouldn't half rattle around in there, far too big for a SL team. RL can't even fill the ground at Magic Weekend. I would try to build bridges with Quins for a Stoop return. The new(ish) CEO is a proper rugby man & Quins need the money which is why they are having another Big Game at Twickenham in May. 80k+ at Christmas likely the same in May with a 50k breakeven figure, quids in but still......
Only need 1 London club at top table but unlikely to happen as game is run by shortsighted planks.

You might be right about Spurs. Mind you Orient might work

London needs a strong SL side circa the early 2,000's playing in a 10k stadium in west London.
It needs to be 50% owned by SL Europe and 50% private funding and it needs more than anything a proper management team to look after the BUSINESS side of things.
Until 5hengame accepts it's either a northern pastime or a viable national and international sport, then it's a pointless conversation.
The decision made by the current crop of SL owners to replace Toronto with Leigh shows that "in the now", it's a pointless conversation.
As for the RLWC and match scheduling.....Cherry Red Records stadium would be the perfect ground for a couple of group games. I fear for the stand alone semi at nal. England v Tonga if it pans out as expected isn't the same as playing Tonga in south Auckland.........I'd have scheduled the other way with the anzacs meeting in London (QPR) and england at elland road.
..,......as for the final v RFU v All Blacks.....no clash. SKY will show the union, the BBC will show the League....only embarrassment is if there's no england in the final on BBC....

No TV clash, but I know of at least 4 or 5 people who would have come to the RL game, but will be at twickers instead. Rugby fans who watch both codes, (union first however).They used to come to the Broncos games at the stoop, stopped coming when the Broncos moved to barnet.

England RU v New Zealand, japan, South Africa and argentina are all 82k bolted on at an average of £100 a ticket.....it'll be sold before general release. Sky will expect bumper figures.....
England RL v Samoa, France and Greece
BBC will get millions....issue is, the Ireland, Scotland and Wales games they normally show on BBC 2....they'll rate well too
So yeah....TV clashes everywhere.

The football World Cup will dwarf the live viewing figures of both rugby codes.

That goes without saying. However, it will be fun watching Rimmer & his mates claiming the RLWC is an outstanding success when its only a 3 horse race with 1 odds on favourite.

The point is something like
Premier League => Football
Championship => Union, NFL
League one => Cricket
.....
......
.....
National League north => Rugby League

We are not even playing in the same sphere as Union. Quins vs Wasps / Saints vs Leicester double header at Twicks would sell 100K at Twicks if it had the capactity, yet we can't even pull 50K for one day of summer magic weekend, when we have 4 games on offer

Be interesting to see if the C4 coverage raises the profile of the game. Saturday lunchtime is not a bad slot.